Been meaning to document this in case anyone is interested in this story.
So, like many Toledoans, I am a big Crystal Bowersox fan. I am also big into social networking sites, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc. Yes, I am addicted, I admit it, but I have good reasons to be.
Anyway, during the whole American Idol finale week, when Crystal came to Toledo for the homecoming show, I missed it all because I had to work. No worries, I knew it would be well documented and I could watch it all online.
Saturday, I spent most of the day catching up on all that, watching videos, reading the news media sites, listening to her original music, yada yada yada.
Saturday night, I happen to see on @FoxToledo news in their evening broadcast that Crystal's bassist, Frankie May, was trying to raise enough money to fly out to California for Crystal's finale show. I thought, wow, surely she would have flown him out there, but then I thought that she isn't "yet" a big time star making money, so yeah, he needs some help to get there.
So Sunday, I was looking thru my Twitter feeds and seen an article posted on the @ToledoFreePress site, mentioning the same thing as the broadcast.
http://www.toledofreepress.com/2010/05/23/concert-to-raise-funds-for-bowersox-bassist/
The original article isn't the same as what's on their now, they updated it, but basically it talked about how Frankie was doing an impromptu concert at the Village Idiot to raise funds. Scroll down and read the comments, and you will understand how this all unfolded. Tom Clark's comment sparked it all. Here there were people who wanted to donate via PayPal and it appeared that there was no way to do so. I was sad...
I know all too well what it is like to be so darn close to something important, wanting and needing to do it and just one little aspect held me back and that was lack of funding. Hell, it is the big story of my life!! I have struggled my whole life and have been there, like Crystal said, not knowing where the money will come from to feed my kid, or pay off that shut-off notice, or having gas money for the car to get to work. I'm STILL there, though not as bad as used to be. I always had faith that I would have just enough to get me by, and God always seen fit that I had "just enough". For that I have been grateful. But I am also a big believer in KARMA and helping others. I have been blessed so many times when I have truly needed it, I just want to pass it on and I always look for any opportunity I can to do so.
Anyway, I had the notion to offer up my PayPal account. It was a business account, already established, and I have a debit card thru them, so any funds that are donated, I can pull out at any ATM instantly. Win-win don't ya think?! Here was a great opportunity to help!!
Then I remembered that I sort of had a friendly conversation with this guy named Danny who runs the fan-based Twitter account, @MamaSoxNation. We talked before when storms were rolling thru Crystal's hometown of Elliston. This was many weeks before the big tornadoes down in Millbury. So my mind starting thinking, we could promote this fundraiser to all of Twitterland and the followers (fans) of Crystal, and most likely raise all the money he needed.
So Sunday, I sent tweets to Danny and he was on board, we talked about how we would do this and he began to start tweeting about it. I updated the comments board on the TFP site.
I woke up Monday, not thinking much about it, I figured we would get maybe a couple hundred, but surely that would help. I seen the first donation come in about 7:30am on Monday. I went to work and just sort of monitored it through out the day. I was getting donations from $5, up to $75. I thought, cool! We're doing this!! So I would update my twitter account, @Majestik_vi48, and post the tally's.
On my lunch break, I called the Village Idiot and told them what we were doing and that I would drop the money off later after I got off work. They sounded really excited, thanked me, but said that they thought Frankie raised enough money and had already left. But if I dropped it off, they would make sure he got it.
I was kinda bummed, I almost returned all the money to everyone, but then I checked out the TFP site and they had updated their story to say that he did get enough money and left for CA, and that any extra donations, Frankie requests that it be given to the local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or JDRF (which is the group that Crystal promotes since she is Type 1 diabetic). I was super excited, and updated everyone about what was going on.
People were STILL donating, they just wanted to give whatever they could to make sure Frankie got to California to support Crystal, and then to support the cause she is so close to. Then came the big shocker!!!
I could not believe what I was seeing in my PayPal account. Some fan in Singapore, yes, the Asian country, had sent $550!!! I had to call PayPal to confirm that this was a legitimate transaction, which they confirmed. I was completely beside myself and started Tweeting about it, and posting it on Facebook and the TFP site. WOW!!!
The whole time, I kept telling everyone, I will print off the statements and all emails as proof to show that 100% of the money will get to JDFS. And I did!
So on Monday, I had reporters from various Toledo news medias call me for interviews. Fox wanted to meet me at the JDRF to be on camera. I had to tell them no, it wasn't about fame for me, I didn't want to be on camera, this was just something me and a few fans were doing for Frankie to get him to Crystal. But since it was the Toledo Free Press's site where all this started, I talked to their reporter. I kept them updated on everything. Here is their article:
http://www.toledofreepress.com/2010/05/26/856-donated-to-jdrf-in-may%E2%80%99s-name/
By now it is Tuesday, I was feeling pretty proud that so many people donated, was super happy that it was going to a cause personal to Crystal's heart, and kinda wanted it all to be over with. In 26 hours, we raised $856!!! Yahoooo!!!!!
I got a hold of the lady at JDRF and she kindly agreed to meet me after I got off work. I was driving over there and got in the parking lot and get this phone call from Frankie himself. I was stunned, I had to pull over and just talk to him. He was so nice, thanked me for what I did and asked questions about how it all happened. I told him about Danny on Twitter and how he was instrumental in partnering with me to do this. I told him I would print everything off for him because there were some personal messages to him that people sent to me. Well, he gave me his email to send it to. This was Tuesday, about 6pm, a few hours before the finale show. I could hear people in the background and he said he was out there with Crystal. We talked for about 20 minutes and he invited me to come hear him and his band play when he came back, saying he would like to meet me and thank me in person. I just couldn't believe it all, how friggin cool!
So I dropped off the donation to JDRF. That lady was super nice as well, we talked for a little bit. I was super happy that I seen an opportunity to help, did it and was successful at it.
I even got a story written about it all on another Crystal fan site: http://crystalfans.com/content/index.php/2010/05/25/frankie-goes-hollywood-a-story-of-community?blog=5
Well, we all know the rest of the story, Crystal didn't win American Idol. I was terribly upset, but thought that maybe this was better for her. She would be a free agent and could do anything after her year of touring. She wouldn't be stuck in some contract and have to pay royalties to AI for stuff she recorded for them. I just cannot wait for her first CD to come out!! I don't EVER buy CD's, but I will definitely buy hers!!!
So everything has died down and I was just waiting to meet Frankie at the Blarney when he was playing with the Chris Shutters Band. I got to meet him, got a pic, http://twitpic.com/1u1jra, and recorded some video. They RAWK'd, lemme tell ya!!! I even bought 2 CD's, one for me and one for Danny, he couldn't come with me because he lives in Illinois. But we talk on a regular basis and keep each other informed on "Crystal news".
I don't personally know any of these people, they certainly didn't know me. All these complete strangers just came together ONLINE to try to help because they believed in Crystal. It's a fabulously beautiful thing. I think it was just a small testament to our area and how we support our locals. We had some from the area who donated, but most were in other states all together, even other nations (Singapore)!!
People may think that I am silly being online and connected all the time like I am, but I discount their opinions of me. Why? Well, my heart is warm and fulfilled because in this case, without the power of the internet, some little kid may have suffered and not have benefited from our donations to JDRF. At least I know that money will help many others.
Those who blow me off.... I ask, "What have YOU done to help someone else lately??"
So that is about it. Sorry for the rambling, I just wanted to document this story in case anyone was lost in the whole craziness of me telling it over the past couple weeks. This is major stuff for me. I live to do this kind of stuff, and have also been blessed to help others in the past, though this is certainly the biggest.
I absolutely love Crystal's song, Farmer's Daughter. The first time I heard it, I cried because it sort of reminded me about my relationship with my own parents. In listening to her other original music, knowing she is from Elliston and Toledo and seeing how real and grounded of a person she is, I can honestly say I am a fan and enjoy her messages. I get it, and I hope others do as well.
Rawk on Crystal....
Chelle
So, like many Toledoans, I am a big Crystal Bowersox fan. I am also big into social networking sites, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc. Yes, I am addicted, I admit it, but I have good reasons to be.
Anyway, during the whole American Idol finale week, when Crystal came to Toledo for the homecoming show, I missed it all because I had to work. No worries, I knew it would be well documented and I could watch it all online.
Saturday, I spent most of the day catching up on all that, watching videos, reading the news media sites, listening to her original music, yada yada yada.
Saturday night, I happen to see on @FoxToledo news in their evening broadcast that Crystal's bassist, Frankie May, was trying to raise enough money to fly out to California for Crystal's finale show. I thought, wow, surely she would have flown him out there, but then I thought that she isn't "yet" a big time star making money, so yeah, he needs some help to get there.
So Sunday, I was looking thru my Twitter feeds and seen an article posted on the @ToledoFreePress site, mentioning the same thing as the broadcast.
http://www.toledofreepress.com/2010/05/23/concert-to-raise-funds-for-bowersox-bassist/
The original article isn't the same as what's on their now, they updated it, but basically it talked about how Frankie was doing an impromptu concert at the Village Idiot to raise funds. Scroll down and read the comments, and you will understand how this all unfolded. Tom Clark's comment sparked it all. Here there were people who wanted to donate via PayPal and it appeared that there was no way to do so. I was sad...
I know all too well what it is like to be so darn close to something important, wanting and needing to do it and just one little aspect held me back and that was lack of funding. Hell, it is the big story of my life!! I have struggled my whole life and have been there, like Crystal said, not knowing where the money will come from to feed my kid, or pay off that shut-off notice, or having gas money for the car to get to work. I'm STILL there, though not as bad as used to be. I always had faith that I would have just enough to get me by, and God always seen fit that I had "just enough". For that I have been grateful. But I am also a big believer in KARMA and helping others. I have been blessed so many times when I have truly needed it, I just want to pass it on and I always look for any opportunity I can to do so.
Anyway, I had the notion to offer up my PayPal account. It was a business account, already established, and I have a debit card thru them, so any funds that are donated, I can pull out at any ATM instantly. Win-win don't ya think?! Here was a great opportunity to help!!
Then I remembered that I sort of had a friendly conversation with this guy named Danny who runs the fan-based Twitter account, @MamaSoxNation. We talked before when storms were rolling thru Crystal's hometown of Elliston. This was many weeks before the big tornadoes down in Millbury. So my mind starting thinking, we could promote this fundraiser to all of Twitterland and the followers (fans) of Crystal, and most likely raise all the money he needed.
So Sunday, I sent tweets to Danny and he was on board, we talked about how we would do this and he began to start tweeting about it. I updated the comments board on the TFP site.
I woke up Monday, not thinking much about it, I figured we would get maybe a couple hundred, but surely that would help. I seen the first donation come in about 7:30am on Monday. I went to work and just sort of monitored it through out the day. I was getting donations from $5, up to $75. I thought, cool! We're doing this!! So I would update my twitter account, @Majestik_vi48, and post the tally's.
On my lunch break, I called the Village Idiot and told them what we were doing and that I would drop the money off later after I got off work. They sounded really excited, thanked me, but said that they thought Frankie raised enough money and had already left. But if I dropped it off, they would make sure he got it.
I was kinda bummed, I almost returned all the money to everyone, but then I checked out the TFP site and they had updated their story to say that he did get enough money and left for CA, and that any extra donations, Frankie requests that it be given to the local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or JDRF (which is the group that Crystal promotes since she is Type 1 diabetic). I was super excited, and updated everyone about what was going on.
People were STILL donating, they just wanted to give whatever they could to make sure Frankie got to California to support Crystal, and then to support the cause she is so close to. Then came the big shocker!!!
I could not believe what I was seeing in my PayPal account. Some fan in Singapore, yes, the Asian country, had sent $550!!! I had to call PayPal to confirm that this was a legitimate transaction, which they confirmed. I was completely beside myself and started Tweeting about it, and posting it on Facebook and the TFP site. WOW!!!
The whole time, I kept telling everyone, I will print off the statements and all emails as proof to show that 100% of the money will get to JDFS. And I did!
So on Monday, I had reporters from various Toledo news medias call me for interviews. Fox wanted to meet me at the JDRF to be on camera. I had to tell them no, it wasn't about fame for me, I didn't want to be on camera, this was just something me and a few fans were doing for Frankie to get him to Crystal. But since it was the Toledo Free Press's site where all this started, I talked to their reporter. I kept them updated on everything. Here is their article:
http://www.toledofreepress.com/2010/05/26/856-donated-to-jdrf-in-may%E2%80%99s-name/
By now it is Tuesday, I was feeling pretty proud that so many people donated, was super happy that it was going to a cause personal to Crystal's heart, and kinda wanted it all to be over with. In 26 hours, we raised $856!!! Yahoooo!!!!!
I got a hold of the lady at JDRF and she kindly agreed to meet me after I got off work. I was driving over there and got in the parking lot and get this phone call from Frankie himself. I was stunned, I had to pull over and just talk to him. He was so nice, thanked me for what I did and asked questions about how it all happened. I told him about Danny on Twitter and how he was instrumental in partnering with me to do this. I told him I would print everything off for him because there were some personal messages to him that people sent to me. Well, he gave me his email to send it to. This was Tuesday, about 6pm, a few hours before the finale show. I could hear people in the background and he said he was out there with Crystal. We talked for about 20 minutes and he invited me to come hear him and his band play when he came back, saying he would like to meet me and thank me in person. I just couldn't believe it all, how friggin cool!
So I dropped off the donation to JDRF. That lady was super nice as well, we talked for a little bit. I was super happy that I seen an opportunity to help, did it and was successful at it.
I even got a story written about it all on another Crystal fan site: http://crystalfans.com/content/index.php/2010/05/25/frankie-goes-hollywood-a-story-of-community?blog=5
Well, we all know the rest of the story, Crystal didn't win American Idol. I was terribly upset, but thought that maybe this was better for her. She would be a free agent and could do anything after her year of touring. She wouldn't be stuck in some contract and have to pay royalties to AI for stuff she recorded for them. I just cannot wait for her first CD to come out!! I don't EVER buy CD's, but I will definitely buy hers!!!
So everything has died down and I was just waiting to meet Frankie at the Blarney when he was playing with the Chris Shutters Band. I got to meet him, got a pic, http://twitpic.com/1u1jra, and recorded some video. They RAWK'd, lemme tell ya!!! I even bought 2 CD's, one for me and one for Danny, he couldn't come with me because he lives in Illinois. But we talk on a regular basis and keep each other informed on "Crystal news".
I don't personally know any of these people, they certainly didn't know me. All these complete strangers just came together ONLINE to try to help because they believed in Crystal. It's a fabulously beautiful thing. I think it was just a small testament to our area and how we support our locals. We had some from the area who donated, but most were in other states all together, even other nations (Singapore)!!
People may think that I am silly being online and connected all the time like I am, but I discount their opinions of me. Why? Well, my heart is warm and fulfilled because in this case, without the power of the internet, some little kid may have suffered and not have benefited from our donations to JDRF. At least I know that money will help many others.
Those who blow me off.... I ask, "What have YOU done to help someone else lately??"
So that is about it. Sorry for the rambling, I just wanted to document this story in case anyone was lost in the whole craziness of me telling it over the past couple weeks. This is major stuff for me. I live to do this kind of stuff, and have also been blessed to help others in the past, though this is certainly the biggest.
I absolutely love Crystal's song, Farmer's Daughter. The first time I heard it, I cried because it sort of reminded me about my relationship with my own parents. In listening to her other original music, knowing she is from Elliston and Toledo and seeing how real and grounded of a person she is, I can honestly say I am a fan and enjoy her messages. I get it, and I hope others do as well.
Rawk on Crystal....
Chelle
Tuesday night finale show.
Crystal finishing her song.
PayPal statement, tho I made this before we had a few more donations squeak by Tuesday morning.
Me & Frankie May at the Blarney, downtown Toledo.
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